A WOMAN who lost her Salford Council job after she alleged her boss had sexually harassed and bullied her was dismissed unfairly.

That was the admission of Charles Green, the council's director of strategy and regeneration, when he appeared before a Manchester employment tribunal yesterday (Wednesday, December 1).

He had been called as the main council witness to answer Andrea Blair's claims she was drummed out of her post as a manager of the authority's community safety unit after making allegations against her department boss Gordon Dickson.

Following her claims, Mrs Blair was suspended from her post last summer amid allegations of gross misconduct and never returned to work after her contact expired.

Mrs Blair, a 34-year-old mum-of-two, took Salford Council to the employment tribunal alleging unfair dismissal, sexual discrimination and victimisation.

She also told the tribunal she had been bullied by her line manager Fiona Meakin who, she said, set unreasonable demands on her.

But while Mr Green admitted that the decision to terminate Mrs Blair's employment had been a mistake 'in hindsight', he maintained it had been part of a department shake-up.

"We received advice from the government to expand and develop the unit," said Mr Green. "Funding was renewed, indeed it was increased and it became necessary to restructure the unit."

Although Mrs Blair's job was divided into two posts, Mr Green said she had been offered neither. He explained: "I took advice from the relevant people in personnel and they told me it was not appropriate to re-deploy Mrs Blair in one of those roles while she was facing disciplinary procedures.

"I admit that in hindsight that was a mistake."

The misconduct allegations Mrs Blair faced related to health and safety matters on the unit. It is alleged she had sent wardens on patrol at dusk on an Eccles estate at a time a person was reported to be shooting at street lights and cars.

While the council conceded the unfair dismissal allegation, it contested claims of sexual discrimination and victimisation and said Mr Dickson, 35, had been cleared.

Barrister Kirsten Barry, representing Salford Council, said there was no link between Andrea Blair's allegations and her ultimate dismissal. She added: "We accept it was a cock up to dismiss her but there was no direct link. It was unfortunate timing."

However, Ivan Wolfenden, counsel for the claimant, said it was for the council to prove that allegations about Mr Dickson had not prompted Mrs Blair's dismissal.

He added: "One of the main things that leads us to draw the inference that her allegations led to her post being lost is that the only person Mr Green discussed the proposed restructuring of the department with was Mr Dickson - the very man she had made the allegations about."

While Mrs Blair has won her case for unfair dismissal, the tribunal is expected to rule over her claims of sexual discrimination and victimisation within the next four weeks.